Leone to resign as Middlesex D.A., join Brown at Boston law firm

BOSTON -- Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone announced Tuesday he will resign to become a partner in a Boston law firm.

Leone's resignation will be effective April 29, Nixon Peabody LLP announced in a statement.

Leone will join the firm as a partner in government investigations and white-collar defense. Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown joined the same law firm last week.

Leone was elected Middlesex district attorney in 2006. His term expires in 2014.

"After dedicating myself to protecting and serving others and impacting lives in public service for the last 20 years, I'm excited about the opportunity to take on new challenges and provide service to others in a different capacity," Leone, 50, said in a statement.

Gov. Deval Patrick will make an interim appointment to fill Leone's job.

"Gov. Patrick appreciates Mr. Leone's 20-plus years of public service to the residents of the commonwealth and wishes him well in the next phase of his career," Patrick spokeswoman Heather Johnson said in a statement. "The governor will appoint an acting Middlesex district attorney in the weeks ahead."

Leone, a Hopkinton resident and Democrat, told his staff in January he would not seek a third term and he planned on leaving politics to "pursue other career opportunities."

Leone had hinted he was considering a run to fill former U.S. Sen. John Kerry's vacant seat. He later announced he was not interested and stuck by his pledge that he would leave politics.

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There was some speculation that Leone would leave his seat early.

At the St. Patrick's Day breakfast in Lowell Friday, Leone used his time at the podium to reflect on his introduction to the Mill City with former state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos at his side. He also took time to thank several supporters throughout the city, making some observers think he was planning an early exit.

Leone was a first assistant in the U.S. attorney's Boston office from 2001 to 2005 before doing private security work for Vance/Garda and then running successfully for Middlesex district attorney in 2006.

Before that he was an assistant district attorney in Middlesex and Suffolk counties and became the chief of the attorney general's criminal bureau.

Leone's high-profile convictions include former Deputy Treasurer Robert Foley, "shoe bomber" Richard Reid, the first admitted al-Qaeda terrorist convicted in the United States, and British nanny Louise Woodward.

"In addition to Gerry's stellar credentials as a prosecutor and trial attorney, his energy, innovative spirit, and collaborative approach is an excellent fit with our firm's culture and priorities," Andrew Glincher, CEO and managing partner of Nixon Peabody, said in a statement. "Gerry's arrival is a visible example of how we are bringing value to our clients in new ways."

Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, a former Waltham state legislator, has been mentioned as a likely interim replacement, as has Middlesex Clerk of Courts Michael Sullivan, state Sen. Eileen Donoghue, D-Lowell, state Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick, and former state Rep. Charlie Murphy, D-Burlington.

Panagiotakos said he is not interested in being appointed to the seat.

"It's a big loss for us. Gerry was the consummate district attorney. He came with more experience than anybody ever had to have for the job," Panagiotakos said.

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